Dear Jih658.2: I am 81 and the following are some of the times sjogrens has acted up on me. It has a mind of it's own. Often enough when there is a great rash over a joint (foot, hand, finger, knee, etc. then: within a few months from that, the joint becomes red, swollen and painful for at least one, two or three months. FOR EXAMPLE: Rash over the knee area on the top of the knee (not under the knee), then the pain after the rash leaves. And so on for the foot (and again there is no rash on the botom of the foot. and then the pain for months. Same for the hand. Rash only on the top of the hand but none on the bottem of the hand, except for the fingers, the rash s all over the fingers and when the rash is gone for about a months time then the pain for one, two or three months. Perhaps this is just for my body and maybe it is different for other people. I have been lucky for I have hardly any deformed bones. (so far) Good luck and with caring Peach Barb

My joints started swelling only a few years ago, hands, wrists, toes. I was also diagnosed with Sjogren's many years ago and so far that's been the diagnosis accept now rheumatologist says inflammatory arthritis. I noticed that red meat makes it worse also corn products. I try to avoid sugar. I have to limit salt for my blood pressure but if I don't the swelling from the salt also makes the inflammation and pain worse. Whether or not it helps I try to drink an anti-inflammatory tea recipe I found online and use the spices also suggested in cooking at health websites. I do eat a lot of walnuts and blueberries. I just don't want to be a fanatic about foods and diets. One of these days someone is going to say brocoli is bad for us.

Don't get a rash but I do get Raynaulds often and then pain. Have you mentioned the rash to your doctor. Maybe something else is going on also. If you have one auto-immune diseases you're bound to get more even if it takes years to develop.

I have Sjogrens too and I was getting a chest scan frequently from m.y Cardiologist.  He kept spotting something in my right lung and we thought it was the Sjogrens but this time I got a shock.  It was lung cancer so I had a lobe removed in May.  Add to that I had a stroke in January and I now have an infection on my liver!  I am only saying this is possible, but rare.  I also have itchy ankles.  Primary problem is Psoriatic Arthritis.  Have you tried an OTC cortisone ointment on your itch?  @marylou705

Hi Barb,thanks for sharing. No rashes or swelling anywhere so far. This is a nasty disease. I thought I was done getting new issues since I have had all my teeth pulled and have a mouthful of implants, wear hearing aids to try to counter act the tinnitus I have gotten, have moderate to severe kidney issues and of course the terribly dry eyes and infections. Also have two spots on my lung they have been watching. My mom is 87 and only has terribly dry eyes and thats lucky for her. But I got it around 40 so I assume thats why everything is worse. Who knows? I am not anxious to make dietary changes but I will try that since I am so tired of taking medicine. I appreciate the way everyone shares what they have and what they do to try and help. I appreciate all of you. Thanks Judy

@ Yes, I have psjogrems and other autoimmune diseases. No teeth, dry eyes, gloucoma, etc., etc., etc. It gets very bad. Somehow I am still here but it gets harder but so far I am still here.

Marylou...that is horrible. Now I know why I took an entire year to have a plate placed in my clavical. It was splinters. I wanted to have it left alone. I was terrified ad to what else could happen to. I am finding it difficult to trust doctors anymore. My Vertibra was crushed when I fell. Again surgeon brought his whole staff in to explain what they would be doing. If they didn't I could not walk without a brace. Two days later I said ok, and they took me immediately before I could change my mind. They used concrete to repair. I was drugged heavily.

I just don't think they look at Ys as individuals.